West Asia tensions continue to intensify as Iran claims control over the Strait of Hormuz and halts multiple oil tankers while a Saudi-linked tanker catches fire after an attack in the Red Sea. US President Donald Trump says Iran is not yet ready for a deal but believes Tehran will eventually agree to negotiations. Meanwhile, the United States and Saudi Arabia sign a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with safeguards against proliferation.

In Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discusses renewed peace efforts with US officials. In Africa, at least 21 people are killed in fresh attacks in Nigeria's Zamfara State. In business, Alphabet surpasses market expectations as Google Cloud and AI drive strong revenue growth, prompting a significant increase in capital spending for 2026.

Stay tuned for the latest international news, geopolitics, business updates, and breaking developments from around the world.

Iran Blocks Strait of Hormuz | Saudi Tanker hit in Red Sea | Trump says Iran will agree to deal 

Google Cloud has laid the foundation stone for a major AI hub in Visakhapatnam, boosting hopes of turning the city into India’s next big technology and data centre destination. Backed by Andhra Pradesh’s aggressive data centre policies, the project is expected to attract large-scale AI infrastructure and investments. Officials believe the state could witness fivefold growth in data centres in the coming years.


Google Cloud’s Massive AI Hub In Vizag Could Transform Andhra Pradesh Into India’s AI Capital

Microsoft and Google lay off hundreds amid economic uncertainty<o:p></o:p>

In a significant step reflecting the current trend of downsizing in the IT sector, Microsoft and Google have announced large layoffs inside their cloud operations. These layoffs are part of a larger attempt to consolidate operations and focus on critical growth areas despite prolonged economic uncertainties.<o:p></o:p>

Microsoft's Azure cloud division faces major reductions<o:p></o:p>

According to Business Insider, Microsoft plans to fire off hundreds of people within its Azure cloud operation. The reduction will have an enormous effect on the Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering teams, resulting in up to 1,500 job losses. These groups are part of the Strategic Missions and Technologies organisation, which was formed in 2021 to lead activities in quantum computing and space exploration.<o:p></o:p>

According to a Microsoft representative, "Organisational and personnel adjustments are a necessary and regular element of managing our business. We will continue to prioritise and invest in important development areas for the benefit of our customers and partners."<o:p></o:p>

This round of layoffs follows prior cuts in January when Microsoft laid off 1,900 people from its Activision Blizzard and Xbox businesses. To fuel growth in its Azure cloud services, the firm has made significant investments in artificial intelligence and used its strategic alliance with OpenAI, the originator of ChatGPT.<o:p></o:p>

Google trims workforce in cloud unit<o:p></o:p>

Similarly, Alphabet Inc.-owned Google is laying off at least 100 employees from several teams in its cloud segment. According to CNBC, positions in sales, operations and engineering, consultancy, and "go to market" strategy are among those impacted. This decision is part of Google's ongoing efforts to align corporate operations with consumer needs and future potential.<o:p></o:p>

According to a Google spokesperson, "We are constantly evolving our business to meet our customers' priorities and the significant opportunities that lie ahead.&nbsp;We remain committed to investing in areas vital to our business to ensure long-term success."<o:p></o:p>

This announcement comes after prior layoffs at Google, which included an undefined number of job cutbacks across various teams in April and several hundred positions in January.<o:p></o:p>

Industry-wide impact and outlook<o:p></o:p>

The layoffs at Microsoft and Google follow a larger trend of employment reduction in the technology and media industries in 2024. In response to the adverse economic situation, companies such as Amazon and Salesforce have decreased their workforces in recent months.<o:p></o:p>

Both Microsoft and Google have stated their commitment to investing in strategic areas critical to their long-term success. Despite revamping its mixed reality division, Microsoft will continue to market its HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset, while Google continues to focus on crucial business sectors to ensure long-term success.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

Microsoft and Google lay off hundreds amid economic uncertainty In a significant step reflecting the current trend of downsizing in the IT sector, Microsoft and Google have announced large layoffs inside their cloud operations.

Microsoft and Google lay off hundreds amid economic uncertainty In a significant step reflecting the current trend of downsizing in the IT sector, Microsoft and Google have announced large layoffs inside their cloud operations. These layoffs are part of a larger attempt to consolidate operations and focus on critical growth areas despite prolonged economic uncertainties. Microsoft's Azure cloud division faces major reductions According to Business Insider, Microsoft plans to fire off hundreds of people within its Azure cloud operation. The reduction will have an enormous effect on the Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering teams, resulting in up to 1,500 job losses. These groups are part of the Strategic Missions and Technologies organisation, which was formed in 2021 to lead activities in quantum computing and space exploration. According to a Microsoft representative, "Organisational and personnel adjustments are a necessary and regular element of managing our business. We will continue to prioritise and invest in important development areas for the benefit of our customers and partners." This round of layoffs follows prior cuts in January when Microsoft laid off 1,900 people from its Activision Blizzard and Xbox businesses. To fuel growth in its Azure cloud services, the firm has made significant investments in artificial intelligence and used its strategic alliance with OpenAI, the originator of ChatGPT. Google trims workforce in cloud unit Similarly, Alphabet Inc.-owned Google is laying off at least 100 employees from several teams in its cloud segment. According to CNBC, positions in sales, operations and engineering, consultancy, and "go to market" strategy are among those impacted. This decision is part of Google's ongoing efforts to align corporate operations with consumer needs and future potential. According to a Google spokesperson, "We are constantly evolving our business to meet our customers' priorities and the significant opportunities that lie ahead. We remain committed to investing in areas vital to our business to ensure long-term success." This announcement comes after prior layoffs at Google, which included an undefined number of job cutbacks across various teams in April and several hundred positions in January. Industry-wide impact and outlook The layoffs at Microsoft and Google follow a larger trend of employment reduction in the technology and media industries in 2024. In response to the adverse economic situation, companies such as Amazon and Salesforce have decreased their workforces in recent months. Both Microsoft and Google have stated their commitment to investing in strategic areas critical to their long-term success. Despite revamping its mixed reality division, Microsoft will continue to market its HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset, while Google continues to focus on crucial business sectors to ensure long-term success. (With inputs from Reuters)

Tech giants Microsoft and Google announce major layoffs amid industry-wide downsizing

Protests were held outside the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco, California on Tuesday (August 29) against the American tech giant's contract with the Israeli government to provide cloud services for the country's public sector and military.

Protests were held outside the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco, California on Tuesday (August 29) against the American tech giant's contract with the Israeli government to provide cloud services for the country's public sector and military. The protesters are part of the "No Tech for Apartheid" campaign, a coalition of current and former Google workers as well as community members and other activists. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, around 100 people attended the protest and it was not known how many of them were from Google. "We have more reasons than ever to recommit ourselves to organizing to ensure that tech companies like Google, based right here in the Bay and in the United States, cannot continue profiting off of and powering Israeli apartheid," Dani Noble, an organiser with Jewish Voice for Peace, said on Tuesday. "These workers have been organizing for two years because they don't want their labour to be used to power Israeli apartheid and violations of Palestinian human rights," Noble added. What is Project Nimbus? Signed in May 2021, Project Nimbus is a multi-year project intended to provide a comprehensive solution for the provision of cloud services to the government, the defence system and other groups in the economy, as per the Israeli finance ministry. The four phases of the project include the acquisition and construction of cloud infrastructure, formulating government policy for migrating to the cloud, integration and migration, and control and optimisation of cloud activity. Amazon Web Services is also a part of the project. Protesters have said the cloud technology was being used against Palestinians, including for surveillance, and racial segregation. "As long as people are aware of this contract, there is nothing more powerful than people power. So what I would urge to people who aren't the decision makers in Google and people who don't make those top line decisions of keeping or dropping project numbers is that they should talk to their colleagues about it," Rami Abdelkarim, a Bay Area organiser, said during Tuesday's protest. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Protests in US over Google's cloud technology contract with Israel government

FanCode, India’s&nbsp;digital sports destination, has partnered with Google Cloud to advance a new era of sports streaming and redefine the next-generation fan experience.

With business goals of enhancing the distribution of mainstream sports content at scale and forging deeper relationships with fans, FanCode is working with Google Cloud to build a data-driven approach towards fan engagement.

This includes matching audiences with relevant sports, engaging them with content, and building a set of engagement flywheels that include content, merchandise, and commerce -- all personalised to the individual user.

“The media and entertainment industry is undergoing a huge disruption with the rise of direct-to-consumer models. Live sports streaming forms the cornerstone of digital viewing habits today and users have more choices than ever with multiple content formats and platforms to engage with. Beyond content, it's the technology experience that gives us the edge, and we are glad to partner with Google Cloud to build this for our users,” said Yannick Colaco, Co-founder, FanCode.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/efl-final-2023-live-manchester-united-vs-newcastle-united-date-kick-off-time-tv-channel-live-stream-565441">Read more:&nbsp;EFL Final 2023 Live: Manchester United vs Newcastle United- Date, kick off time, TV channel &amp; live stream</a>

Through Google Cloud’s global infrastructure, delivery capabilities, industry-focused solutions and partnerships, FanCode successfully launched its biggest property, the India-West Indies bilateral cricket series, in record time.

The end-to-end solution setup on Google Cloud—from ideation, to testing and production, to rollout—was successfully completed within weeks, and enabled FanCode to deliver a truly immersive experience to fans. FanCode is also exploring engaging sports enthusiasts across multiple digital touchpoints whilst they’re online on YouTube, Search, and others. Google Cloud partners Skandha Media Services, Ateme and Conviiva played a key role in bringing its service live on FanCode’s platform.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Looking ahead, FanCode and Google Cloud will continue to collaborate to enhance the user journey and make FanCode top of mind for users across South Asia.

Using Google Cloud’s cutting-edge delivery capabilities with MediaCDN, which was born out of Google’s own direct-to-consumer properties, will enable FanCode to efficiently and intelligently deliver streaming experiences to users wherever they are.

In addition, FanCode is undergoing application modernisation with Google Kubernetes Engine to deliver greater efficiencies in the process. Finally, with the ability to build a unified consumer data strategy using Google Cloud’s&nbsp;data and analytics products, FanCode will also be able to test and scale new content formats and business models to strengthen its net promoter score (NPS) and maximise shareholder value.

“India’s streaming video market is in a steep growth phase and is expected to more than double in size by 2027. I believe we have only scratched the surface when it comes to exploring investments in fast-emerging areas like immersive content, interactive experiences, and the convergence of media with other areas like commerce and gaming. We are excited to work with FanCode to take the viewing experience for sports fans to the next level,” said Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director, Google Cloud India.

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FanCode, India’s digital sports destination, has partnered with Google Cloud to advance a new era of sports streaming and redefine the next-generation fan experience.

FanCode, India’s digital sports destination, has partnered with Google Cloud to advance a new era of sports streaming and redefine the next-generation fan experience. With business goals of enhancing the distribution of mainstream sports content at scale and forging deeper relationships with fans, FanCode is working with Google Cloud to build a data-driven approach towards fan engagement. This includes matching audiences with relevant sports, engaging them with content, and building a set of engagement flywheels that include content, merchandise, and commerce -- all personalised to the individual user. “The media and entertainment industry is undergoing a huge disruption with the rise of direct-to-consumer models. Live sports streaming forms the cornerstone of digital viewing habits today and users have more choices than ever with multiple content formats and platforms to engage with. Beyond content, it's the technology experience that gives us the edge, and we are glad to partner with Google Cloud to build this for our users,” said Yannick Colaco, Co-founder, FanCode. Read more: EFL Final 2023 Live: Manchester United vs Newcastle United- Date, kick off time, TV channel & live stream Through Google Cloud’s global infrastructure, delivery capabilities, industry-focused solutions and partnerships, FanCode successfully launched its biggest property, the India-West Indies bilateral cricket series, in record time. The end-to-end solution setup on Google Cloud—from ideation, to testing and production, to rollout—was successfully completed within weeks, and enabled FanCode to deliver a truly immersive experience to fans. FanCode is also exploring engaging sports enthusiasts across multiple digital touchpoints whilst they’re online on YouTube, Search, and others. Google Cloud partners Skandha Media Services, Ateme and Conviiva played a key role in bringing its service live on FanCode’s platform. Looking ahead, FanCode and Google Cloud will continue to collaborate to enhance the user journey and make FanCode top of mind for users across South Asia. Using Google Cloud’s cutting-edge delivery capabilities with MediaCDN, which was born out of Google’s own direct-to-consumer properties, will enable FanCode to efficiently and intelligently deliver streaming experiences to users wherever they are. In addition, FanCode is undergoing application modernisation with Google Kubernetes Engine to deliver greater efficiencies in the process. Finally, with the ability to build a unified consumer data strategy using Google Cloud’s data and analytics products, FanCode will also be able to test and scale new content formats and business models to strengthen its net promoter score (NPS) and maximise shareholder value. “India’s streaming video market is in a steep growth phase and is expected to more than double in size by 2027. I believe we have only scratched the surface when it comes to exploring investments in fast-emerging areas like immersive content, interactive experiences, and the convergence of media with other areas like commerce and gaming. We are excited to work with FanCode to take the viewing experience for sports fans to the next level,” said Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director, Google Cloud India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FanCode and Google Cloud collaborate to transform live sports viewing experience for users across South Asia

The head of Google Cloud unit in the Americas, Kirsten Kliphouse, has left the company, the spokesperson said. Fox-Martin's appointment aims at "unifying global go-to-market organization," the company said and the role will focus on all global sales as well as service and support.

World Business Watch: Google Cloud's top U.S. sales executive departs

How does Google make money?

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers.

Under the partnership, SpaceX will place its Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, which can help the service support businesses requiring cloud-based applications.

Starlink is in the process of launching its satellite broadband internet service, which can reach customers without ground-based connections and is one of several space-based systems.

"Combining Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google's infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect," said SpaceX president and chief operating officer&nbsp;Gwynne Shotwell.&nbsp;

"We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world."

Urs Hoelzle, senior vice president at Google Cloud, said the tie-up would help ensure "that organisations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running."

This new capability for enterprise customers is expected to be available in the second half of 2021, the companies said in a joint statement.

SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval for broadband service for both consumers and businesses around the world from thousands of satellites.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers.

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers. Under the partnership, SpaceX will place its Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, which can help the service support businesses requiring cloud-based applications. Starlink is in the process of launching its satellite broadband internet service, which can reach customers without ground-based connections and is one of several space-based systems. "Combining Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google's infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect," said SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell. "We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world." Urs Hoelzle, senior vice president at Google Cloud, said the tie-up would help ensure "that organisations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running." This new capability for enterprise customers is expected to be available in the second half of 2021, the companies said in a joint statement. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval for broadband service for both consumers and businesses around the world from thousands of satellites. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's SpaceX signs deal with Google Cloud for satellite broadband

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter.&nbsp;

In 2018, Twitter decided to work with Google Cloud to move cold data storage and its flexible compute Hadoop clusters to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to enable the company enhance the experience and productivity of its engineering teams working with its data platform.&nbsp;

In a statement, Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal on Thursday said, "Our initial partnership with Google Cloud has been successful and enabled us to enhance the productivity of our engineering teams."&nbsp;

"Building on this relationship and Google's technologies will allow us to learn more from our data, move faster and serve more relevant content to the people who use our service every day," he added.&nbsp;

The Hadoop compute system is the core of Twitter's data platform, and Twitter runs multiple large Hadoop clusters that are among the biggest in the world.&nbsp;

The migration will enable faster capacity provisioning, increased flexibility, access to a broader ecosystem of tools and services, improvements to security and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities.&nbsp;

In an earlier statement, Agrawal said, "Architecturally, we will also be able to separate compute and storage for this class of Hadoop workloads, which has a number of long-term scaling and operational benefits."&nbsp;

Google Cloud Platform's data solutions and trusted infrastructure will provide Twitter with the technical flexibility and consistency that its platform requires.&nbsp;

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter.

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter. In 2018, Twitter decided to work with Google Cloud to move cold data storage and its flexible compute Hadoop clusters to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to enable the company enhance the experience and productivity of its engineering teams working with its data platform. In a statement, Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal on Thursday said, "Our initial partnership with Google Cloud has been successful and enabled us to enhance the productivity of our engineering teams." "Building on this relationship and Google's technologies will allow us to learn more from our data, move faster and serve more relevant content to the people who use our service every day," he added. The Hadoop compute system is the core of Twitter's data platform, and Twitter runs multiple large Hadoop clusters that are among the biggest in the world. The migration will enable faster capacity provisioning, increased flexibility, access to a broader ecosystem of tools and services, improvements to security and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities. In an earlier statement, Agrawal said, "Architecturally, we will also be able to separate compute and storage for this class of Hadoop workloads, which has a number of long-term scaling and operational benefits." Google Cloud Platform's data solutions and trusted infrastructure will provide Twitter with the technical flexibility and consistency that its platform requires.

Google Cloud signs mega deal with Twitter

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